Reporter

A rock fisherman has died after falling into the water off Curl Curl Beach, despite another fisherman's "courageous" attempts to save him, emergency services say.

Police and paramedics were called just before 8.30am on Thursday, after witnesses described a fully dressed fisherman struggling to stay above the water, after falling off rocks 100 metres north of the North Curl Curl rock baths.

A nearby fisherman threw a life ring into the water, but the man had lost consciousness, a statement from the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter said.

The fisherman jumped in, swam out to the man and put the life ring around him, before starting deep-water resuscitation, the statement said.

Advertisement

Local lifesavers paddled out to the fishermen on surfboards and brought both men back to shore.

One of the helicopter's crew was winched onto the sand, and worked alongside police and paramedics, but the man could not be revived.

Police said the man, believed to be in his 60s, was pronounced dead on the beach. A report will be prepared for the coroner.